PREVIEW: Pro12, Round 22

Thu, 04 May 2017 12:00

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The regular Pro12 season will be capped off by Super Saturday in Round 22 as traditional derby games take place right across the Championship with all games kicking off at the same time.

The semifinal teams are all but set with Ulster still possessing a mathematical chance of pipping Ospreys while the Italian derby in Parma will decide whether Zebre or Benetton qualify for the Champions Cup.

The Championship's all-time try-scoring record for a season was broken last week by Leinster's Rory O'Loughlin against Glasgow Warriors at the RDS Arena; by the time Round 21 had finished the total number of tries scored this season stood at 683 which means that try No.700 is likely to be recorded this weekend.

Ulster entertain Leinster at a sold-out Kingspan Stadium knowing that a bonus-point victory would give them a slim chance of reaching the semifinals depending on Ospreys' result in Llanelli. Leinster, meanwhile, will need to pick up points in order to ensure they finish in 1st place with Munster lying just three points behind in second place.

Munster welcome the 2016 Pro12 champions Connacht to Thomond Park. Connacht have secured their place in the Champions Cup play-offs, but depending on Cardiff Blues result a victory here may allow Pat Lam's team to finish the season in 7th position.

The Blues travel to Caerphilly where Newport-Gwent Dragons will host their regional clash at the Constructaquote Stadium while in Scotland Glasgow Warriors will host Edinburgh at a sold-out Scotstoun to decide who will win the 1872 Cup. The Warriors take a lead 13 point lead into the game after their 25-12 win over Edinburgh in December.
Finally, Zebre and Benetton will meet at Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi in Parma with Champions Cup qualification on the line. Both teams are level on 19 points but in the event of a draw Benetton have an advantage having won more games and boast a superior points difference.

The big West Wales derby at Parc y Scarlets will play an influential role in deciding the line-ups for the semifinals. In the current standings Scarlets would be away to Munster and Ospreys would be away to Leinster. However, this fixture and the Munster v Connacht and Ulster v Leinster games will decide that order.

The game will also provide vital momentum for the winner going into the Pro12 Final Series and with as many as seven British and Irish Lions tour selections on the pitch the crowd in Llanelli and those watching on television are in for a cracker.

Glasgow Warriors may have failed to reach the Pro12 semifinals for the first time in six years, but they will be out to wrestle the 1872 out of Edinburgh's hands for the first time since 2014, the capital side having taken the trophy for the last two seasons.

Warriors have won their last three matches at Scotstoun, all with maximum points, as Gregor Townsend takes charge of his 116th and final Pro12 match, with only Joe Schmidt having a better winning percentage as head coach in the history of the competition.

Edinburgh ended an eight-game losing streak in the Pro12 with their 24-20 home win over Newport Gwent Dragons in Round 21.

Edinburgh's only away win in the Championship this season came when they beat Zebre in Parma on New Year's Eve.

Warriors won 25-12 at Murrayfield on December 26 in the first leg of the 1872 Cup whilst Edinburgh have not won on Glasgow soil since a trip to Hughenden in December 2003. Edinburgh's 14-11 victory last year was switched from Scotstoun to Murrayfield because of weather concerns.

Munster have secured a home semifinal for only the second time in the last seven seasons but if they are to overhaul Leinster to become top seeds they will need a win in this game and hope that their rivals trip up.

The Munstermen have won their last five Pro12 encounters, whilst their only defeat since Round Six was at home to Scarlets on February 24.

Connacht have made the European Champions Cup play-offs but their only win in the last five rounds of the Pro12 was at Edinburgh on April 7.

Connacht have become just the third reigning Pro12 Champions to have failed to make the semifinals in the year of their defence, the others being Ospreys in 2012 and Leinster in 2014.

Connacht have won three of their last five fixtures with Munster, but did slip up 9-16 in Galway in Round 12.

Last season Connacht won at Thomond Park for the first time since 1986.